Japanese potters

Yano Tomo 矢野知

1937-?malekaratsu potteryStarted making Western paintings at first and began to research shaping at the recommendation of the Western painter Ebihara Kinosuke in 1956.Started Koki Kozan studio in 1973 and began making ceramics in an ascending kiln and cellar kiln. Held private exhibitions thereafter at the Meitetsu in Nagoya, the Takashimaya in Yokohama, the Ginza Kuroda Touen, and other venues as an unaffiliated artist.Using Karatsu ware as a foundation, developed works such as Shino Karatsu. (more…)

Yagi Tadashi 八木正

1956-1983maleBorn as the 2nd son of the avant-garde potter Yagi Kazuo. Older brother was Yagi Akira.Started holding private exhibitions at galleries in Tokyo and the Kansai region in the late 1970s while in university. Mainly presented sculptures and was attracting attention but passed away at the age of 27 due to leukemia in 1983. (more…)

Yamamoto Shoun 山本祥雲

1867-?From Kanagawa Prefecture. Received an Honorable Mention at the 4th National Industrial Exhibition in 1895 and won an award at the Yokohama Ceramic Painting Society Spring Fair in 1899. Won the 2nd Place Award at the Tokyo Ceramic Society’s 9th Workshop Exhibition in 1903 and the 3rd Place Award at the 10th Workshop Exhibition in 1904.There is a high likelihood that he was the ceramic painter of Hyochien (Fukagawa, Tokyo), given that he lived near this studio, but this has not been confirmed. (more…)

Yamato Shoroku 10th 十代 大和松緑

Meiji Era-?malehagi potteryFrom Yamaguchi Prefecture. Shoroku kiln. 10th generation of a well-known Hagi ware family that had been active for generation after generation.Received the honor of holding exhibitions for the Imperial Household and selling works to the Imperial Household several times between the Meiji and Taisho eras. Exhibited at various exhibitions in the Showa era. Won the Special Award at the National Craft Instruction Exhibition in 1930 and the 1st Place Award at the Yamaguchi Prefectural Craft Exhibition in 1932 and the Osaka Prefectural Craft Exhibition in 1934. Received high praise and was certified as a Craft Potter in 1949. (more…)

Yamazaki Koyo 1st 初代 山崎光洋

1890-1979malekyo potteryFrom Ishikawa Prefecture. After assisting with painting at a Kutani ware studio, entered the world of craft art. However, became a pupil of Yamamoto Shunkyo from Kyoto to become a Japanese painter through painting ceramics.Later went back to painting ceramics and started making ceramics in Kyoto. Repeatedly selected for and won awards at the Kyoto Craft Art Exhibition, Teiten Exhibition, Shin Bunten Exhibition, and other exhibitions. Certified as an Art Preservationist in 1943 and a Technical Preservationist the following year. Mainly exhibited repeatedly in the Nitten Exhibition after World War II. Participated in the establishment of the Kyoto Traditional (more…)

Yamane Seigan 山根清玩

1952-malehagi potteryFrom Hagi, Yamaguchi. Started researching the potter’s wheel, clay, and glazes through self-education in 1987. Started the Kosaian kiln in 1990. Exhibited at every Hagi Ware Festival Exhibition after first exhibiting during the 3rd Exhibition in 1990. Continues to produce works with a focus on other private exhibitions at galleries.Started researching Ao Hagi glazes around 1992 and created a highly creative work style with shining blue colors added to the world of traditional Hagi ware. Completed Seigan Blue in 2002 as a culmination of his works to that point. (more…)

Yasuda Kisaburo 安田喜三郎

Around the Late Edo Period-Meiji Eramalekyo-satsuma potteryPotter from Awataguchi, Kyoto. According to the Chronological Table of Awataguchi, the 1st generation exhibited at the Amsterdam Exposition in 1883 together with Taizan Yohei, Kinkozan Sobei, and others and won an award.The 2nd generation Kisaburo passed away in 1915, and the 3rd generation passed away in 1978 at the age of 80, ending the Yasuda lineage of pottery.Work style is based on Kyo-Satsuma ware, and left elaborate works that use a relatively large amount of gold glazing. (more…)

Yamamoto Ryuichi 山本竜一

1964-malebizen potteryBorn as the 1st son of the Bizen ware artist Yamamoto Yuichi. Started making ceramics in 1989 under the guidance of his father and grandfather, Yamamoto Toshu (living national treasure). Won the Prefectural Exhibition Award at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1993 and continued to exhibit in the same exhibition the following year and thereafter, repeatedly winning awards by winning the Honorable Mention Award in 1994, the Prefectural Exhibition Award from 1995 to 1998, and the Okayama Mayor’s Award in 1999. After being selected for the Japan Craft Society Chugoku Branch Exhibition for the first time in 1995, (more…)

Yamada Tozan 山田陶山

1878-1941maletokoname potteryBorn as the younger brother of the 1st generation Yamada Jozan. Studied ceramic techniques from his older brother. Also acquired Shigaraki, Iga, and other ceramic techniques on his own, leaving positive results for the creation of large ceramics, such as producing hibachi using the potter’s wheel, which is a technique that did not exist in Tokoname ware before.Also known as a pioneer of Tokoname ware techniques that do not use the potter’s wheel (one of the teapot creation techniques brought to Tokoname by Kin Shiko from the Gikoyo kiln in China). (more…)

Yabu Meizan 藪明山

1853-1934maleosaka-satsuma potteryBorn as the 2nd son of Yabu Chosui, the painter from Osaka. Temporarily succeeded his grandfather Yabu Sukezaemon and lived in Fukura, Awaji, but studied Satsuma ceramic painting in Tokyo for half a year in 1880. After returning to Osaka, established a ceramic painting studio in Nakanoshima, Kita, Osaka. Started making Satsuma ware-style ceramics and selling them to the United States. These became very popular, and he started receiving orders directly from the United States. Moved to Dojima in 1889 and expanded the business further. Later succeeded in establishing overseas export routes through the Yamanaka Shokai Trading Company from (more…)

Yamada Tetsu 山田喆

1898-1971maleBorn as a child of the Monzuiji Temple in Gifu. Was training to become a priest to succeed the family business at first but dropped out of university and decided to become a potter.Studied under Tomimoto Kenkichi and exhibited at the Kokugakai before World War II and the Shinsho Kogeikai after World War II. Won the Minister of Education’s Award at the Geijutsu Sensho Awards in 1962.His child is Yamada Hikaru, the founder of Sodeisha.Developed works produced as a result of thorough research on Joseon porcelain. (more…)

Yamada Sanan 山田山庵

1906-1995maleraku potteryWas an ardent student of tea ceremonies, antiques, and ceramics. Became even more devoted after graduating from university and marrying the daughter of a antique trader (Mr. Yamada) to become an adopted son.Also began building friendly relations with Nakamura Donen around 1934 and started making ceramics himself. Started imitating generational works by the Raku family at first and moved to Koetsu-style Raku ware, which was Donen’s specialty, after World War II. Also started researching Shino teacups around 1965 and studied under Suzuki Osamu from Tajimi, Gifu.Established the Japan Ceramic Club in 1967. Invited to exhibit at the 1st Japan (more…)

Yaguchi Eiju 3rd 三代 矢口永寿

1941-?kutani porcelainNephew of the 2nd generation Yaguchi Eiju. Studied ceramics under his uncle, the 2nd generation Yaguchi Eiju, and became the 3rd generation Yaguchi Eiju in 1987.Inherited the tea bowl techniques of the 2nd generation and mainly thrived in private exhibitions. Frequently created works liked by masters. (more…)

Yaguchi Eiju 矢口永寿

1870-1952malekutani porcelainBorn as the son of the owner of a hot spring lodge in Yamanaka Onsen, Enuma.Invited several potters, including Takiguchi Kazen, the pupil of Eiraku Hozen, from Kyoto in 1904 and started Eiju kiln by creating a porcelain kiln on his property. Also invited Toyama Kanzan, the pupil of Kiyomizu Rokubey, in 1906 to produce many pieces of tableware, with a focus on painted porcelain. Later changed the style of his works to focus on tea bowls as a master of Kyo ware and painted porcelain, using techniques such as red paintings, Shonzui, Kenzan, and Ninsei.Also excelled in writing (more…)

Yamada Kazu 山田和

1954-maleshino potteryBorn into an environment in which his father was Yamada Kenkichi, the intangible cultural property designated by Tokoname, Aichi, and his uncle was the 3rd generation Yamada Jozan, the national designated important intangible cultural asset (living national treasure). Pursued the life of a potter.After graduating from university in 1976, started a kiln in Echizen Pottery Village and thrived, hosting his first tea bowl exhibition under the guidance of Kato Tokuro in 1980.Started a cellar kiln in Germany in 1988 and produced works. Continues to thrive by holding private exhibitions from time to time in Japan.Works are not limited to (more…)

Yagi Isso 八木一艸

1894-1973malekyo potteryFrom Kyoto. Modern Kyo ware. Formed the Sekidosha ceramic movement together with Kusube Yaichi and others. Child is Yagi Kazuo, the leader of modern avant-garde ceramics. (more…)

Mori Kazuhiro 森一洋

1966-malebizen potteryBorn as the 1st son of Mori Togaku, who inherited the kiln of the Mori family, one of Bizen’s 6 old potting families. After graduating from the Department of Art in the Faculty of Education at Okayama University, studied under his father and started making ceramics.Won the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1969 and started an ascending kiln in Aioi, Hyogo. Certified by Okayama Prefecture as an important intangible cultural property in 1996. (more…)

Morita Takashi 森田隆司

1954 –maleFrom Kobe, Hyogo. Selected for the Modern Craft Art Exhibition for the first time in 1980 (and every year thereafter) and the Nitten Exhibition for the first time in 1982 (and every year thereafter). Also won the Kyoto Mayor’s Award in 1990 (and in 1994) and the Nikkei Newspaper Award in 1991 at the Kyoten Exhibition.Also won the Award of Excellence at the Kyoto Craft Biennale in 1994, the Kyoto Prefectural Governor’s Award at the Modern Craft Kinki Exhibition in 1996, and the Official Members’ Award at the Modern Craft Art Exhibition in 2004. Thrived at various exhibitions.Shapes are (more…)

Mori Yusetsu 森有節

1808-1882malebanko potteryAfter being invited to restore Banko ware by Yamada Hikoemon, a relative of Nunami Rozan of Banko ware, started a kiln in Obuke, Asahi and started making ceramics that came to be known as Yusetsu Banko ware.Used wooden models to make ceramics, which was an innovative technique at the time, and also introduced new methods, such as pink and black glazes. Received the equivalent of the annual rice stipend of 5 people from Matsudaira, the feudal lord and Governor of Ecchu Province. Was exempted from the right to bear a surname and wear a sword in 1864 and served (more…)

Mori Suiho 森翠峰

1865-1932banko potteryServed as a politician (Diet member) for his main occupation, but engaged in restoring Ko-Banko ware in 1915 around the age of 50. Started Tokaen in Masuo near Kuwana. Gathered the artisan Fujii Toraku, the painter Hayashi Yoshio, the potter’s wheel artisan Uchida Shozan, and other artisans to manufacture quality products at low prices. Left tea bowl masterpieces made by their own. Received the signature of the master of the Matsuo school from Nagoya.The 2nd generation succeeded Shigeo after them passing, but the kiln closed in 1934. (more…)